But do you ever think that the one whom you ask for Jannah can also provide you with-

You guessed it right.

Diet pepsi.

What I am about to narrate may seem like quite an ordinary tale void of adventure, but it was one of the most miraculous experiences for me, personally. And I hope you can see the miracle in your own diet pepsi as well.

So my tale begins on an ordinary night out with my family. We were on our way back home from shopping, chilling in the car, when my soul began to crave for that can of artificial sweetness.

Diet pepsi.

So like any normal child, I requested (*cough* demanded*cough*) that my father buy me one.

And guess what happened?

He refused.

It was getting late.

My soul cried out in protest. If my inner feelings at that time had words, it would sound something like this.

"But I MUST have it! I haven't had it in sooo long"

I tried asking him again.

Guess what happened?

He refused. Again.

But this time, my inner feelings found words. Not just any words, but these ones.

"O Allah, give me diet pepsi!"

Yep. I actually made that dua. Thanks to the training of my beloved bhabhi's (Umm Imaan) audio series on Asma ul Husna (The Most beautiful names of Allah), Al Mujeeb in particular, I found myself making dua to Allah for something as small as diet pepsi. It is said that the salaf used to make dua for shoe laces if they broke.

And no, I didn't get the diet pepsi that night. Sorry to disappoint you.

And I forgot about that dua.

I went home, diet pepsi less.

Guess what happened next day?

My brother asks me (He NEVER does this) for some cash so he can buy snacks. I agree on the condition he buys something for me as well.

And in a hurry I tell him:

"Diet Pepsi"

He comes back, the diet pepsi is in front of me now. It's open. I take refreshing sips.

Nothing. Still nothing.

And like a strike of lightning, everything falls in place.

This is no ordinary diet pepsi!!

It's an answer to my dua!

My heart melted.

My Rabb responded to the silliest dua imaginable.

But that's the catch, it wasn't silly for him.

He paid attention to it and gave me a diet pepsi that I took delight in!

Alhamdulillah! Allahu Akbar!

That was soo loving of Him. I felt my imaan rise tremendously.

I felt more eager to make Duas and had even more hope in the Duas that seemed huge.

In duas for jannatul firdaus, where I can have rivers of pepsi, in sha Allah.

So make dua for that mountain dew, 7 up or whatever your favourite fizzy drink is. If you don't like any, you still get the drift.

We just need to think of the definition of science to understand why there needs to be serious research in the field of science from an Islamic lens.

If you have any recollection of what you were taught in kindergarten- When you were a child on the fitrah (Innate natural disposition or inclination towards the truth)

You would realize why it's important that this field be explored through a very basic lens that the Qur'an and sunnah offers.

Allah subhana wa' ta'la in The Qur'an, expects human beings to reflect about the creation of Allah, Al Khaliq, The creator.

And that is exactly what science is.

the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment*

*Definition of science

Allah subhana wa' ta'la asks us to look at the creation of the heavens and the earth- and to reach the conclusion, the awareness of the greatness of the creator who created such a great creation.

But the present scientific trend expects us to lose ourselves in the intellectual abyss- to lose touch with the reality- and to form no conclusions except one conclusion- That science itself must be made into a god.

This paradoxical belief is what atheists- who claim to worship logic- illogically believe.

The Qur'an abolishes the atheist belief of taking science as a god.

The scientific way of thinking is a means to God, which if it's not supplemented with guidance from the Qur'an and the Sunnah, will lead the human being nowhere.

The human being will be lost in his/her entire life in the intellectual abyss, with little or no care for the true purpose of life- which is beyond science.

We all know how fascinating it is to think about the millions of galaxies in our universe, and the billions of stars inhabiting it.

It almost makes the curious scientific observer of the galaxies and stars- the astronomer- have a spiritual awakening of his own insignificance, and then the biologist- has to remind him of the marvelous nature of his own human body- that as macroscopic; as large as the stars inhabiting the galaxies are; his very own human brain and nerves, his very own blood vessels, are other mind boggling things that can be observed with equal-if not greater fascination.

So one might as well wonder, after the astronomer and biologist goes home, when he does something as mundane as drinking a cup of tea, doesn't he feel a pull somewhere inside his very being, asking him to look at those stars again; yet again; and reach a deeper conclusion that none of his human existence might explain?

And perhaps, maybe when that spiritual side of his awakens, he might become aware of greater things in life; such as the human compassion with which his wife made him this tea. And then perhaps; He might feel the warmth of human love for his beloved wife.

And then maybe; just maybe, as the scientist in him turns into a philosopher; He might recollect his boyhood- in which he solidly recollects a vague sounding name-

God.

And maybe. Just maybe. He will shed that mask of methodical scientist. and become a boy- who is in desperate need of an all encompassing love, mercy, that even his wife can't give him.

And maybe, just maybe, he will understand that this love and mercy that his being desperately longs for, is too great, is greater than the stars he observed-he observed, but can't worship or pray to- because as a scientist, he knows what stars are made of- hot gases- hot gases can't give him the kind of mercy he needs.

And maybe, just maybe, he will understand why he is not a philosopher, and his desperation will produce tears. Because that's all he is. A boy crying out to the Invisible creator of those mighty stars.

God.

And that was his silent prayer, witnessed only by the All-seeing, the All-hearing, the All-knowing.

About Me

Hibaysh

An introverted idealist, Hibaysh is a 20 something techno-geek, hoping to spark a change in the world through learning, writing, teaching- and of course, technology! Having no qualms in declaring that she would still enjoy reading Enid Blyton’s series for children, “The famous five” , Hibaysh also happens to be very serious about the dream projects she has undertaken for the benefit of the world. Identifying herself first and foremost as a Mu-Islam( Someone who does Islam, yo)…Muslim- An identity that encompasses all other identities (Responsible and informed citizen, College student, Malayali (This one she wears like a badge, although her brothers ridicule her for it)), Hibaysh is hoping that through the teachings of Islam, she can play all the ever-increasing number of roles to excellence. Join Hibaysh in this spiritual, growing adventure, as she explores all that could be explored in a lifetime, InshaAllah!